Hey guys, I am looking for a few pieces of real Blue Coal for my collection, Yaknow with the blue speckles.. A piece of Readings red dusted one would be nice as well. Let me know if anyone has a few pieces they would be willing to part with. I have heard you can still find it up at Huber, but I dont have the time to make a trip up there anytime soon. Thanks, Paul

Doug, Blue coal was a marketing tool that the Hudson Coal Company used to sell their coal. As the coal was leaving the Huber Breaker in Ashley, Pa. they would spray the coal a bright blue color. The company's claim was that blue coal burned hotter and better then the competition. The coal was no different than any other coal from the particular seams that they were working in the Wyoming Valley. You can still see the sprayers in the breaker with the blue color on them. If anyone knows any more, please add on to what I have said.

Thanks guys..gonna have to make a trip to Huber later this year I guess.

Hudson Coal used the "Lackawanna Anthracite" monicker. Did they spray theres? Reading used "If its Red its Reading" (Sprayed red, not sure how long that lasted)Blue Coal, well, We know that one..Lehigh Coal & Nav. used "It Lasts Longer"Lehigh Valley Coal used "The Coal that Satisfys"Jeddo was "Aristocrat of Anthracite"

Joined: Fri Jul 15, 2005 2:34 pmPosts: 6906Location: Within 60 Miles of the Northern Anthracite Field

usually they threw in little cardboard tags of the coal company. a few hundred would be mixed in a ton of coal. i have a few old ones from hudson. that way as you shoveled it into your stove, you remembered where you bought it. marketing at its finest.....

Doug, Blue coal was a marketing tool that the Hudson Coal Company used to sell their coal. As the coal was leaving the Huber Breaker in Ashley, Pa. they would spray the coal a bright blue color. The company's claim was that blue coal burned hotter and better then the competition. The coal was no different than any other coal from the particular seams that they were working in the Wyoming Valley. You can still see the sprayers in the breaker with the blue color on them. If anyone knows any more, please add on to what I have said.

Scott K

Fascinating! Absolutely fascinating! I never knew this!!!! I always assumed that the term "Blue" was a reference to Blue Mountain in PA. Realize that I didn't know exactly where there mines were located and only had a rather weak handle where Blue Mountain was. I thought I saw it once from the Pennsylvania Turnpike or something.

That said, a lot of the anthracite I burn often has shades of blue to it. Some batches more than others. I assume it's from copper or something or maybe it's just the way the light is refracted, I don't know.

Someone else mentioned tags in the coal. I have never seen that but one mystery I've had is ground up pieces of wood. Almost like someone put some railroad ties through a shredder. I have never known what they were, if they were from mine timbers or what. Once again, some loads have more than others. There have been times when some loads have had so much of it, that I picked them out and used them to help start the fire with!

Joined: Fri Jul 15, 2005 2:34 pmPosts: 6906Location: Within 60 Miles of the Northern Anthracite Field

Yep, the wood is from old props and timbering in the underground mines that made its way through the breaker with the coal. Most anthracite is strip mined now and they are digging through old workings and pull all kinds of neat stuff out.

Yep, the wood is from old props and timbering in the underground mines that made its way through the breaker with the coal. Most anthracite is strip mined now and they are digging through old workings and pull all kinds of neat stuff out.

Oh really? I thought anthracite lies deeper and a lot of the mines are underground. Someone posted a message the other day that all anthracite mines except one are using tracks and rail haulage.

I assumed that that one is a strip or open pit mine. Not sure where that thread was - I'll try and find it again.

Joined: Fri Jul 15, 2005 2:34 pmPosts: 6906Location: Within 60 Miles of the Northern Anthracite Field

that was me that posted that. no i meant that all but one underground mine used tracks. now they all do as i just found out harmony coal just shut down last week. they used continuous miners and shuttle cars. most of the anthracite is mined by strip mining. im not sure of the percentage of strip/deep mined anthracite in the region but id bet its about 5% is deep mined.......

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